Wagon-body.



Patented May'20, |902.

J. w. FmcH.

WAGON BODY.

(Application tiled Nov. 12, 1901.)

(N0 Model.)

Fig. 2.

UNITED STATES ,PATENT OEETCE.

JOI-IN WALTER FINCI'I, OF LELAND, MISSISSIPPI.

WAGON-BODY.

SPECIFICATION forming' 'part 0f Letters Patent N O. 790,635, dated May 20, 19.02.

Application filed November 12,1901. Serial No. 81,981. (No model.) i

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN WALTER FINCH, of Leland,in the county of Washington and State of Mississipphhave invented certain Improvements in Wagon-Bodies, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in separable wagon bodies; and the vinvention consists in providing a body of few parts, such that can be readily and with ease taken apart by one person, leaving the bottom resting onV the running-gear, thus adapting the vehicle to purposes where a box-like body could not be used to the same advantage.Y

I am aware that it is not, broadly, new to construct a wagon-body with detachable sides and ends, but believe that the construction employed by me and pointed out in the claims is new.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and use, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved wagon-body. Fig. 2 isa plan view. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on line of Fig. 4 is a sectional detail through one side and part of the bottom, showing the lower end of a rear stay-strap rigid withA the sides,- bent at right angles,and passing under the bottom of the body. Figs. 5 and 6 are details showing a modified construction ofthe corner-fastening for the sides and ends of thev body when said sides and ends are formed of wood.

In the drawings, A A denote the side of a wagon-body, and B B the ends. are formed of sheet-iron, and the ends are provided with a series of spaced tongues a, whichV are bent backward, forming eyes or sockets b. v

The tongues ct on the frontand rear boards B are constructed so as to occupy the space between those ou the side-boards, and they are likewise bent to form sockets similar to those, as at l), of the side-boards.

C denotes an independent inverted-\ /v shaped rod, the ends c of which pass down through the sockets b, as shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings. The horizontal member d These parts The bottom D is made of wood and is supported by and secured to the running-gear in any desired manner. About midway of the bottom D, on its underside, Isecure two crossbars e with projecting ends f,.which latter are bridged bya tie-*bar g, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. At or near the forward end of'thebottom'D, I in like manner secure a cross-bar ewith projecting ends f. The rear end of the bottom D mayalso be provided with a cross-bar; but the'ends do not project beyond the sides of the body.

About midway of the side-boards of the body I secure brace-irons E. These braceirons consist of a vertical member 1, a horizontal member 2, whose outer end is bent upward and inclined, as at 3, joining and made rigid with thevertical member l. The lower end of the vertical member is rigid with the horizontal member and both members formed into a hook-like projection 4, constructed to pass loosely and removably under and engage thejedge of the bottom D, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The forward end of the sideboard D is provided with a similar brace and the rear end by a stay-iron F, whose lower end is bent inwardly, forming a hook 5, engaging the edge of the bottom board. All the brace-ironsE, as also the stays F, are securely bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the sideboards and engage the bottom onlyby the hooks 4 and 5, as shown in the several iigures of the drawings. c v

With the construction just described it is apparent that when it is desired to dispense with the sides, leaving only the bottom, there being no bolts or screws to remove, it is only j necessary to withdraw the U -shaped securingirons,when the sides and endsand side braces maybe freely removed.

' It will be seen that the horizontal member 2 of thebrace-irons E,when the side-boards are in place, rest loosely on the projecting ends f f' of the cross-bar c e', and, if desired, they may be detachably secured thereon in any approved manner, as is obvious to those skilled in the art. The under side of the bottom of the wagon-body may be provided with IOO [ 1-shaped keepers or recesses to receive the hooks or projections on the braces and stayirons.

In the construction above described all the parts are formed of iron but in modification thereof I may construct the side and end boards of wood and provide them with corner-irons Gr, having loops h, which with similar loops of the irons on the end-boards interlock and form sockets to receive the ends c of the locking-rod C, thus securely fastening the two boards together. t;

From the foregoing it will be understood that when it is desired to convert my wagonbody into a flat-top vehicle all that is necessary is to withdraw the two locking-rods C, when the side and end boards may be lifted l to the ground with ease and facility.

I would call attention to the fact that in separating-the side and end boards, the rear of which is practicallyan end-gate, there are nol bolts, nuts, or screws to be removed requiring the use of a tool. All that is required is the withdrawal of thelocking-rods, as before stated.

While the braces hereinbefore described, and shown in the drawings,will ordinarily support the sides A and prevent bulging thereof in hauling heavy material-such as sand, ore, &c.it may be necessary to assist the braces by bolt devices, as at- M, Fig. l. In the drawings I have shown for this purpose a double bolt passing through suitable keepers M', such as staples or the like, on the side-boards and edge of the bottom board. I would have it understood, however, that I do not desire to limit myself to the use of any particular device for this purpose, as an ordinary sliding bolt and keepers may be employed instead of the double bolt shown.

I am aware that a Wagon-body having detachable sides and ends with special braces and securing means is not new or original with me, and I do not, therefore, desire to broadly claim such in this specification. I do think, however, my special construction of parts and the combination thereof as expressed in my claims is new and that I am entitled to protection, inasmuch as the same is-not only original with me, but with such construction of parts I provide a Wagon-body having recognized merit over all wagon-bodies as previously constructed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a wagon-body, the combination with the bottom sides and ends, the sides and ends having a detachable connection with each other, and a cross-bar secured to the bottom at about the center thereof with its ends projecting beyond the sides and provided at its ends with a projection on its upper-face, of a triangular brace fixedly secured to each side and provided at its base with an inwardlyextending projection, the base of the braces resting loosely on the projecting ends of the cross-bar with their projections extending under the bottom into sockets or 1-shaped keepers, the said braces being restrained from lateral movement by the projections of the bar, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a wagon-body, the combination with the bottom sides and ends, the sides and ends having a detachable connection with each other, a pair of spaced cross-bars secured to the bottom at about the center thereof and projecting beyond the sides and a bar connecting the ends of the cross-bars, of a pair of triangular braces secured to each side and each provided at its base with an inwardlyextending projection, the base of the braces resting loosely on the projecting ends of the cross-bars inside of the bars connecting said cross-bars and having their projections eX- tending under the bottom into sockets or J- shaped keepers substantially as shown and described.

3. In a wagon-body the combination with the bottom, of sides and ends, the sides and ends each being constructed of iron and provided with a plurality of spaced and alined eyes formed by bending integral extensions thereof into loop shape as shown, which loops interlock with each other when the parts are assembled, of independent l-shaped securing-irons, each comprising vertical members entering the interlocked eyes of the sides and ends locking them together, and a horizontal member ofa length equal to the distance apart of the sides of the body whereby the said sides will be braced against lateral movement when the securing-iron is iu position, all substantially as shown and described.

4. In a Wagon-body the combination with the bottom, of sides and ends having detachable connection with each other, and a crossbar secured to the bottom at about the center thereof with its ends projecting beyond the sides and provided at its ends with a projection on its upper face, of a triangular brace fiXedly secured to each side and provided at its base with an inwardly-extending projection, the base of the braces resting loosely on the projecting'ends of the cross-bar with their projections extending under the bottom into sockets or |shaped keepers, the said braces being restrained from lateral movement by the projections of the bars, andbolt devices at either side of the braces supported in keepers on the sides and adapted to engage or en` ter sockets on the bottom substantially as described. l I

JOHN WALTER FINCII.

Witnesses:

W. I-I. I-IoRToN, W. W. WILLIAMS.

IOO

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